Hinske and Schafer: Deep League WW Braves Edition

Thank goodness for injuries opening up playing time for new blood or I would be out of a job. Injuries to Jason Heyward and Nate McLouth have provided opportunities for a one-time recent prospect and another one-time prospect who has become a productive bench bat.

Eric Hinske, 1B/OF | 6% Owned

Remember when Hinske was a top prospect in the Blue Jays system? During his rookie campaign in 2002, he posted a .369 wOBA and earned himself AL ROY honors. Unfortunately, that would turn out to be the highest wOBA of his career. Now 33, Hinske has become just a solid bat off the bench who could play multiple positions. The good news is that he has maintained some pretty good skills. Though he has not shown it yet this year, he has always walked at an above average clip, though that has come with its fair share of strikeouts. Only making contact about 76% of the time over his career, his batting average is not going to help you. However, he still has power, posting ISO rates no lower than .189 since 2006 and HR/FB ratios in the low to mid teens. As a fly ball hitter (with the exception of this year so far), he is sure to be a decent power source.

*After writing this entire blurb, I just realized that Eno Sarris posted an article on the Braves outfield that included Hinske just two days ago. Check out his thoughts.

Jordan Schafer, OF | 1% Owned

Most people will remember Schafer as the top prospect who violated the minor league substance abuse policy in 2008 and was handed a 50-game suspension. Then in 2009, he injured his wrist and required surgery. Clearly, Schafer’s career was headed in the wrong direction. Now he finally returns to the Majors and was penciled into the lead off spot last night. Unfortunately, the power that he showed in his various minor league stops from 2006-2009 has vanished. Whether his strength from his wrist surgery still has not full returned or something else is at play, he no longer looks like the solid power/speed combo guy he once did. That said, he still has speed, and posted the best contact rate of his career during his time at Triple-A this year. Admittedly, he may very well suck and find himself right back to the minors. But deep leaguers crave at-bats and he is getting them right now. With the potential to swipe some bags and score some runs if he continues hitting lead off, he is worth a look.